Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to make their first joint return to the UK in four years this July, accompanied by their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The visit is believed to be for a one-year countdown event to the Invictus Games 2027, which will be held in Birmingham. The Sussex family has been offered accommodation on a royal estate but has not yet responded to the invitation.
Security Concerns and Previous Visits
On previous visits, Prince Harry has declined offers to stay at Buckingham Palace due to security concerns about using such a high-profile, visible building. The last time King Charles saw his grandchildren in person was during the late Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.
TalkTV Presenter's Criticism
TalkTV presenter Mark Dolan appeared on The Royals Uncensored podcast, where he described the news as "the biggest royal story of the year." He said: "I think for the fact that it's happening, after all the things Meghan has said about the UK and about the Royal Family, and the fact that it's happening for this non-event, this one-year countdown, which Harry could easily have done on Zoom from Montecito, smacks of desperation. And I think what this move reveals is the total failure of the Sussex brand in the United States. The money is drying up. The gigs are just not there."
Dolan referred to the Sussexes' first-look agreement with Netflix. Archewell Productions had acquired novelist Carley Fortune's second fiction story, Meet Me at the Lake, to make it into a film. Fortune said in an interview with Jenna Bush Hager that she is working with the royal couple on the film, as reported by the Daily Mail. She said she signed over the film rights to Archewell after a "really good, long call" with Meghan and Archewell film producer Tracy Ryerson.
Declining Speaking Engagements and Brand Struggles
Beyond the Netflix deal, Dolan claimed Harry's speaking engagements have also dried up, adding: "He used to get a million dollars for a speech and now it's at $50k. The As Ever brand is struggling, that jam or spread or whatever you want to call it, ain't selling." He concluded: "So I think this move, so prematurely a year ahead of Invictus, reveals that Meghan and Harry are really worried. And in particular Meghan - who, you know, my sources tell me - sees herself as the breadwinner. The received wisdom is that they get back to the UK, recalibrate their royal credentials and hopefully it boosts their brand."
Public Reactions and Conspiracy Theories
Some viewers suggested the news could be a distraction created by King Charles to stop talk about group gang reports. One person said: "I just feel that some royal correspondents are trying to make this a bigger deal while the public is flat out or don't believe it. Bombshell? Seems to have fizzled to me." Another added: "That is how bad they are down the drain, they have to use the kids because there are issues also with Invictus, nobody wants them anymore. The grifters are out."
